I had to look up ‘intersex’ before speaking to Tony Briffa, the world’s first intersex mayor, and a dynamic spirit. Here is a person who was born with ambiguous genitalia, and has since evolved from Antoinette to Tony to the Mayor of Hobsons Bay. An inspiration, and a joy to meet.

Part of the same on-air encounter was a man who has delivered over 20,000 babies – Geoffrey Edelsten. He’s also survived Long Bay, a chopper crash, a brain tumour, bankruptcy and a wife 40 years his junior. Hear how here, as well as my natter on what words are shaping to be anointed as Macquarie Dictionary’s Word of 2011. What do you think warrants the shortlist?

Gargantuan News

Yep, my Gargantuan Book of Words is big & full of words. Not just English but secret codes, Papuan pidgin, Zulu worms, sound FX, funny goldfish, letter origami. You get the drift? It's big. It's fun. And it's out now.

Packed with games, pickles, codes and cheesy puns, Wordburger is your chance to be a champion puzzler in 20 quick bites. Ideal for wordy kids keen to open a new language door, or grown-ups who want to cut their cryptic teeth. Click here.